How to Prepare Your Car for the Winter

It’s that time of year again: time for your car’s winter maintenance check-up. If you haven’t prepared your car for the winter already, we have a few suggestions on getting the job done.

1. Replace your wiper blades. Wiper blades should be replaced about once a year, so now is a good time to do so. You’ll want effective, undamaged blades that are able to handle heavy lifting as they wipe away all the snow, ice and rain on its way this season.
2. Check your tires. Your tires, including the spare, should be at the designated pressure detailed in your owner’s manual. We suggest their tread be no less than 1/16th of an inch deep. They need to have strong traction. Leave the sliding to the kids’ sleds.
3. Test your battery. We have professional equipment to check the strength of your battery at Carter Chevrolet. It is not a complicated process, but a necessary one. A dead battery in the dead of winter? We’re sure you’d rather not think about it.
4. Top off your fluids. During the winter months you will be using more fluids than normal; keeping extra bottles in the trunk is a good idea. We recommend using an antifreeze solvent made of 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water. Your wiper fluid will come in handy as you clear the morning frost from your windshield.

As long as you keep up with routine maintenance in addition to this list, your vehicle should be in pretty good shape to brave the winter. Give us a call today if we can lend a hand or answer any additional questions.